Madhura Geetam – Sloka Series: 5

Srinivasa Karavalambanam Stotram

Sri Swamiji looks upon Lord Srinivasa as his father. He has composed innumerable songs and a set of 8 slokas on Him. The slokas are known as Srinivasa Karavalambanam Stotram. In Sanskrit, “Kara” means hand, “Avalambanam” means “Holding”. Sri Swamiji pleads with the Lord to take him unto his fold by grasping his hand and guiding him through this ocean of samsara, just as a father would lead a child. The slokas are not just philosophical in nature. They describe the beauty of the Lord very poetically. One interesting lyrical beauty that can be observed is that each sloka’s first line begins with “shvetha” which means white or bright color and the second line with “neela” which means blue or dark hue, the opposite of white.

Here are the slokas and their meaning:

shvEta-sAgara-madhya-rAjita-vEnkaTEsha-ramApatE
neela-ratna-samAnabhAsa-sudivyagAtra-dharApatE |
vainatEya-bhujanga-rAja-parIta-sarva-jagatpatE
shrInivAsa karAvalambanam Ashu dEhi dayAnidhE ||

O Lord Venkatesha, the consort of Ramaa, the One who radiates in the white ocean of milk,
The Lord of Earth, the One who has a brilliance like a blue-colored jewel, the One with beautiful limbs.
The Lord of the universe around whom Garuda and the king of serpents coexist,
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

shvEta-shankha-ratAnga-shObhita-shyAma-varNa-kalEvara
neela-mEgha-samAvrutAdri-nivAsa-saukhya-girIsha-hE |
shrIramA-vasudA-nirantara-sEvitAbja-padadvaya
shrInivAsa-karAvalambanam-Ashu-dEhi-dayAnidhE ||

O Girisha(Lord of the Hills, the One who is adorned with a white conch and a discus,
The blue-hued One, The One who resides comfortably in a hill that is surrounded by water-bearing (blue) clouds.
The One whose lotus feet are always worshiped by Sri Ramaa Devi and Bhumi Devi,
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

shvEta-sapta-giristita-nishi-dEvatAgaNa-pUjita
neela-nirmala-vyOmanAma-nrupAtmajA-priya-vallabha |
svAmi-pushkariNi-taTa-priya-vEnkaTAdri-virAjita
shrInivAsa karAvalambanam Ashu dEhi dayAnidhE ||

Situated on the bright, holy seven hills, worshiped by Gods and demigods,
The Lord who is dear to the daughter of the King who bears the name of the crystal clear blue sky (daughter of Akasha Raja).
The One who loves the banks of Swami Pushkarni and shines on Venkatadri,
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

shvEta-mukta-samAna-ranjana-danta-pankti-yuta-smita
neela-shrIdhara-nAgathalpa-shayAna-yOgi-samAshrita |
Ananda-nAma-vimAna-mandira-supratishTita-sundara
shrInivAsa karAvalambanam Ashu dEhi dayAnidhE ||

The One whose smile manifests His white, pearl-like array of white teeth,
The blue-colored Lord who is the consort of Lakshmi Devi and who reclines on a serpent is the refuge for all Yogis.
The handsome One who is established in the temple bearing the ‘Ananda Vimana’,
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

shvEta-kaNTa-sushObhita-dvija-rAja-kalpita-vAhana
neela-padma-sarOvarAvruta-kAnanAntara-chAraNa |
bhU-varAha-supuNya-dhAma-krutAlaya-suguNAlaya
shrInivAsa karAvalambanam Ashu dEhi dayAnidhE ||

The One who has as His vehicle the white-necked king of birds (Garuda),
The One who wandered inside deep forests surrounded by a lake filled with blue lotuses.
The One who is an abode of all divine qualities and who has made the beautiful holy place of Bhu Varaha His abode!
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

shvEta-danta-viBUshitAdbhuta-ratna-maNTapa-madhyaga
neela-kaNTa-sadAshivArchita-chAru-mangaLa-vigraha |
brahmaja-bhrugu-kOpa-sAntvana-bhakta-pOsha-parAtpara
shrInivAsa karAvalambanam Ashu dEhi dayAnidhE ||

The One who is present in a wondrous sanctum decorated with precious gems and white ivory,
The divine One who has a charming and auspicious form and is always worshiped by Lord Shiva, the Neelakanta
The great One who pacified the anger of Bhrigu, the son of Lord Brahma, and nurtures His devotees and is the Supreme of the supreme,
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

shvEta-pUrNa-shashAnka-shItala-sundarAnana-mAdhava
neela-manjuLa-jambvalankruta-varSha-madhya-nikEtana |
yakSha-rAja-kubEra-sEvita-kAmavarSha-padAmbuja
shrInivAsa karAvalambanam Ashu dEhi dayAnidhE ||

The One who is the consort of Lakshmi (Madhava) and whose beautiful face resembles a cool, white, full moon,
The One who has His abode in the middle of ‘Jambu Dwipa’ – the island filled with sweet blue ‘jambu’ berries,
The One whose lotus feet are served by Kubera, the king of Yakshas, and can fulfill all desires,
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

shvEta-chAmara-chhatra-samyuta-rAja-vaibhava-shObhita
neela-chitra-dukUla-vEshTita-nitya-saumya-tanO-harE |
hEma-neeraja-kAnti-pUritha-padmajA-mana-mOhana
shrInivAsa karAvalambanam Ashu dEhi dayAnidhE ||

The One who stands like a king in all glory, adorned with His white fan and royal white umbrella,
The One who wears a blue-colored multi-patterned cloth and has an ever-pleasing form,
The One who shines with the radiance of a golden lotus and captivates the heart of the Lotus-born Mahalakshmi Devi.
O Lord Srinivasa, the ever-compassionate One, without further ado, grasp my hand and take me unto Your fold!

Translated by
Sowmya Balasubramanian, Houston TX

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